Traumatic battlefield wounds such as compound bone fracture are very difficult to treat, often requiring multiple surgeries and long healing and rehabilitation times. Amputations are common. Current treatments employing screws, plates, and rods are deficient and can themselves lead to further complications.
DARPA seeks to create a dynamic putty-like material that, when packed in and around a compound bone fracture, provides full loadbearing capabilities within days. Fracture putty could rapidly restore a patient to ambulatory function while normal healing ensues, with dramatically reduced rehabilitation time and elimination of infection and secondary fractures. This putty would create an osteoconductive bone-like internal structure that degrades into harmless resorbable byproducts as normal bone regenerates. The goals of this program are ambitious, but, if achieved, could have a revolutionary impact on wound healing. Fracture Putty is the convergence of materials sciences, mechanics, and orthopedics.
DARPA seeks to create a dynamic putty-like material that, when packed in and around a compound bone fracture, provides full loadbearing capabilities within days. Fracture putty could rapidly restore a patient to ambulatory function while normal healing ensues, with dramatically reduced rehabilitation time and elimination of infection and secondary fractures. This putty would create an osteoconductive bone-like internal structure that degrades into harmless resorbable byproducts as normal bone regenerates. The goals of this program are ambitious, but, if achieved, could have a revolutionary impact on wound healing. Fracture Putty is the convergence of materials sciences, mechanics, and orthopedics.